Mergers & acquisitions (M&A)
Newly acquired Chesterfield eyes further expansion
Lloyd’s broker Chesterfield, recently acquired by HW Kaufman Financial, plans to “more than double in size” in the next two years.
US broker acquires London-based Chesterfield
HW Kaufman Financial, parent company of wholesale broker and underwriter Burns & Wilcox is to buy London-based insurance broker and underwriter Chesterfield.
Japanese insurance giant plots merger
NKSJ Holdings, Japan's third-largest general insurer, is planning to merge its two main units, Sompo Japan and Nipponkoa Insurance, according to report.
CCV completes first two deals of 2012
Lyon Insurance Services in Anglesey and Crown Insurance Brokers in Birmingham have been fully acquired and both will join existing CCV businesses.
Tawa, Skuld and Paraline complete Whittington deal
A consortium comprised of Tawa, Skuld, and Paraline Group has completed on the acquisition of Whittington Insurance Market.
Whittington London market deal done
The consortium of Tawa, Skuld, and Paraline Group, has completed the acquisition of Whittington Insurance Markets, the London-market operations of Whittington Group.
THB’s Murphy heralds AmWINS deal
AmWINS takeover of the THB Group has been completed with Frank Murphy, chief executive of THB Group, becoming CEO of the AmWINS international division too.
Mergers & Acquisitions: Bucking the trend
As the market weighs up the value of assets such as Groupama and Brit’s UK arms, deal making by insurers appears to be buoyant, especially when compared to other industry sectors. But is this a trend that is set to continue?
Ironshore names Aon’s Cheung for M&A
Ironshore has announced that Katherine Cheung has joined the mergers & acquisitions division as underwriter and solicitor of its Lloyd’s Pembroke Syndicate 4000.
Reinsurance rates in Spain fell at January renewal
Reinsurance rates in Spain fell at the January 1, 2012, renewal, despite the effects of the European financial situation on the primary market.
Quindell takes 30% stake in Ai Claims
Quindell Portfolio has added to yesterday’s purchase of law firm Silverbeck Rymer by taking a 29.9% in Ai Claims Solutions.
Aon acquires 80% of Spanish broker GDS
Aon Corporation has agreed to acquire 80% of Spanish insurance broker GDS from banks La Caixa and Banca March.
Groupama UK CEO quashes MBO speculation
Groupama UK chief executive François-Xavier Boisseau has ruled out a management buyout.
Law firm sale hinges on SRA approval
Solicitors Regulation Authority approval is required before one of the first law firm takeovers can go ahead.
Tatton returns to market with insurance debt vehicle
The former chief executive of Irish health insurer VHI and founder of Vivas, Oliver Tattan, has launched a debt financing firm for European insurers.
Markel enters Germany with Anglo buy
Markel International has taken a 50% stake in Munich-based Anglo Underwriting with an option to acquire the remaining 50% by 2017.
Fairfax takes 25% Thai Re stake
Financial services company Fairfax is to acquire approximately 25% of the issued and outstanding shares of Thai Re in a deal worth approximately $70m.
Barbican makes fresh Omega bid
Barbican sent a letter to rival Omega this week outlining a “merger of equals”.
Arle completes CSG sale and acquires new partner
Arle Capital Partners has sold Capital Safety Group for an enterprise value of $1.12bn (£72m) in a deal which will see former CSG chief executive Anders Pettersson join Arle as a partner.
Talanx and KBC reach €770m agreement on Warta
KBC group has reached an agreement with Talanx International AG for the sale of 100% of the shares of KBC's Polish insurance subsidiary TUiR Warta for a total consideration of €770m.
Axa SA and Ace believed to be vying for HSBC
Axa SA and Ace are believed to be in the final running for HSBC Holdings’s non-life insurance operations.
AIA tipped to make $6bn ING bid
AIA Group may make a bid for the $6bn Asian insurance operations of ING Groep, according to reports.
Editor's comment: Tempting fate on features
Commissioning editorial copy can be a bit like tempting fate. This week’s broker-focused feature on mergers and acquisitions reflected back over 2011 as its starting point, when first conceived a couple of months ago, with a writer assigned to analyse…
News analysis: Groupama UK up for sale — but who will buy the group?
Will Groupama be sold lock, stock and barrel or broken into an insurer and its broker parts?